Device foe indicating life in buried peesons



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

O. REDL'.

DEVIOE FOR INDIGATING LIFE IN BURIED PERSONS. No. 371,626. Patented Oct.18, 1887.

I I'll L i Q N FE'IERS. Fhmwl-Khognpimr. Wammgion. o. c.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. G. REDL.

DEVICE FOR INDIOATING LIFE IN BURIED PERSONS.

No. 371,626. Patented Oct. 18, 1887.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARL REDL, OF VIENNA, AUSTRIA-HUNGARY.

DEVICE FOR lNDlCATlNG LIFE IN BURIED PERSONS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 371,626, dated October18, 1887.

Application filed March 16, 1887. Serial No. 231,212. (No model.)

To (LZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL REDL, a subject ofthe EmperorofAustria-Hungary, and a resident of Vienna, Austria-Hungary, haveinvented a new and useful Device for Indicating Life in Buried Persons,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a safety device and alarm apparatus applied tocoffins for the use and saving of such persons as may be buried whileonly apparently dead. It may be constructed in two diti'erentmodifications, accordingly as the coffin is placed under the earth or ina vault. In the first modification the coffin is provided with anopening, over which may be placed an air-pipe. This opening and alsothat at the upper end of the airpipe are closed up by a hinged orsliding plate, which may be opened by the movement of the buriedperson,so that fresh air may enter into the coffin. At the same time anelectric current is closed by opening the plates,which current actuatesan electric alarm apparatus, (either situated in a casing abovetheair-pipe or in any other suitable place.) If the coftin is situated in avault or in a sarcophagus the air-pipe (of much less length) is placedupon an opening in the cover of the same, and a flexible (orarticulated) joint is arranged between the closing device of the coffinand that of the air-pipe. The alarm apparatus is in both cases the same.

Figure 1 represents a vertical section of such a safety-coffin. Fig. 2is a view (from the interior of the coffin) of the shutting device whenclosed; Fig. 3, when opened. Fig. 4 is a 1ongitudinal section of thesame, showing the closed cover and the catch device. Fig. 5 represents avertical section of the same, showing the guide of the cover. Fig. 6represents the cover, seen from above. Fig. 7 is a vertical section ofthe top of the air-pipe, the cover being opened. Fig. 8 represents, in alarger scale, the contact device for the electric alarm apparatus. Figs.2 to 7 are shown on an enlarged scale.

The coffin A, Fig. 1, is provided with an opening, a, which may beclosed with acover or slide-plate, b. This cover carries on every side atube-shaped guide-piece, 12, Figs. 2, 3, and 5, which slides in asuitable guide fixed to the coffin. Any ordinary means of guidingmay,however, be employed. A spring, 0, (spiral spring or volute spring,)inclosed in a casing, presses against each end of the tubularguide-piece b and has the tendency to remove the cover I) from theopening a. This is prevented by a spring-catch, d, the nose of whichcatches behind the projection b on the cover or slide-plate b. As can beseen in Fig. 4, after removing the cover 6 the slide-plate b (or theopeninga) is disclosed, and on unscrewing the safety-capf and pressingdown the pin (1 the nose n is disengaged from d and the slide-plate b isremoved by the springs c from the opening a. The same is effected bypull.- ing at the cord or chain 9.

The opening a is surrounded by a short tubular IIII], h, Figs. 4, 5, 6,which is provided with two pins, h. The air-pipe B is put upon thistubular rim h, so that the two pins If enter into two slots on the loweredge of the same and prevent it from turning.

The air pipe extends to a suitable height above the tomb and ends inasloping top piece, which may be closed by a cover, t. The cover i isprovided with a catch-nose, i, which may engage (when the cover isclosed) with a catch device, It. When the safety-cap Zis unscrewed, onemay press upon the pin it of the springcatch k,whereby the connectionbetween t" and his disengaged. The coveris opened by means of a weight,in, (or a spring,) which is suspended on a chain or cord, m, passingover pulleys m" m.

The opening of the cover may be facilitated by a spring, a,which pressesagainst the cover The catch device It is connected with a rod or wire,0, or by any other suitable means, to the pin 1), Figs. 4 and 6, whichis hinged on the cover or slide-plate b. WVhen the apparentIy deadperson awakes and pulls the cord 9, the cover 12 opens, asalreadystated. By the movement of the plate b the wire or rod 0 is drawndownwardly, the catch or trigger it is disengaged, and the covert opens,so that fresh air may enter. The flange of the cover may be providedwith packing material, such as a rubber ring or the like.

In order to have also an audible signal I employ an electric alarmapparatus. An electric contact is produced at the moment when .thecovert is opened. Fig. 8 represents this contact device on an enlargedscale. The cover '6 is provided with a pin or projection, i whichprojects through a slit or opening in the flange B and bears on a knob,q, of non-conducting material, (ivory, ebonite, &c.,) which is securedto a metal spring, q. The conductingwires pass to the two terminals rand s. The latter-is secured to the metal spring g, which rests upon aninsulating-plate, it. When the cover opens, theprojection i ceases topress on' the knob q, and the current passes from the terminal r,through the metal plateu and spring q, to the second terminal, 8. Whenthe cover is closed the projection 2'' passes on the knob q, so that thespring q leavesthe metal plate u, and the current is interrupted.

The electric circuit comprises a battery, 0, of any suitableconstruction, and also an alarm,

D, (also ofany suitable construction.) 0 and D may be situated in acasing, E, over the airpipe or in the watch-room;

It is understood that the coffin, air-pipe, appurtenances, and casing Emay be made ofany suitable material in any ornamental decoration. Onemay also employ several openings in the coffin and several air-pipes.The first cover or slide-plate may be applied to the lower part of theair-pipe instead of on the cofiin.

I claim, in an apparatus for the saving of ap parentl y dead and buriedpersons- 1. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore described, ofthe air-pipe B, cover i, weight m, chain m, catch device 13 k, wire 0,slide-p1ate I), catch device I) d, springs c, and cord 9, substantiallyas described.

2. The combination,with tube B and cover z, of the wire 0, catch devicek, projection i knob q, metal spring g, battery 0, connectors r s, andinsulating-plate u, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination, with the coffin A and slide-plate b, of the springsa, catch device b d, cord 9, air-pipe B, cover 6, weight m, chain in,catch device 2" 7c, and wire 0, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with the coffin A, of the slide-plate b, springs a,catch device I) d, cord 9!, air-pipe B, cover iyweight m, catch device1" la, wire 0, a projection, '5 knob q, metal spring q, connectors rs,insulating-plate a, battery 0, and alarm D, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth. 1

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

CARL REDL.

Witnesses:

' EDMUND J USSEN, OTTO SOHEFFER.

